Our mission at St. Andrew Catholic Church is to become saints.

Following the example of our patron, St. Andrew, with humility we seek to:

Hear God’s call through the truth of the Catholic Church

Respond in love with acts of charity and mercy

Grow continuously through the sacraments and daily prayer and

Proclaim the Good News through our vocation.

Dear friends,

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week I greet you with a grateful heart. I am thankful for the blessing of being your pastor.

As I mentioned in the homily last week, I have been working with the pastoral council of St. Andrew to develop a new mission statement. Through discussion, prayer, and discernment we finalized the statement printed above just before we celebrated his feast last Sunday. St. Andrew is a wonderful patron and guide for us as we seek to live our vocation according to God’s call.

First, we must keep the end in mind; the reason for which we do all things. Some of you may remember the old catechism Q and A. Who created you? God created me. Why were you created? To know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this life and be happy with Him forever in the next. We are created to be in relationship with God. The Church is the way that we are in relationship with Him. Baptized into Christ, into His body the Church, we become adopted sons and daughters of our heavenly Father. The closer we are to our mother, the Church, the closer we are to Him. He wants us to draw ever closer to Him in this life so that when He comes for us at the end of our days, we are ready to go with Him to our heavenly home and be with Him forever. Yet, so many things distract us from that end. Pursuits that are empty, desires that are disordered, all lead us down a path away from that end.

One thing that will help all of us to stay on the way and to draw closer to God each day is to keep the end in mind, that for which we do all things. Oftentimes we are not mindful of why we do what we do, as we are motivated by selfish desires that take over by habit. We often react rather than act deliberately for the glory of God. It takes practice, but with prayer we are able to recognize these motives and be more and more mindful of why we do what we do. A few quick questions will help us on this path: Is what I am doing good, is it in line with the teachings of the Church and her commandments? Am I doing this for the glory of God, or myself? Am I motivated by anger, jealousy, fear, selfishness, or love?

With a quick check in with the King of Kings, we are set straight, put on the right path. As we are attentive to His Holy Spirit, we are guided on this path and our conscience becomes more and more sensitive to His promptings. He gently guides us on this path. He is not an unruly tyrant expecting of us unreasonable things. No, He is a benevolent King, looking out for His children and always wanting the best for them as they follow His way.

One of the greatest aides on this pilgrimage is gratitude. As we are thankful for all the gifts that God has given us, no matter what might be happening in our lives, and especially when things are not going well, we will be able to weather the storm with great peace. As we keep in mind the end for which we are created, we will be able to share that peace and love with those around us, beginning with our families. St. Andrew was searching for the Prince of Peace and when he found Him he went straightaway to his brother and then spent the rest of his life proclaiming the Good News of salvation and gave his life for the Gospel entrusted to him, following the example of his King. Thanks be to God for his example.

St. Andrew, pray for us.

Fr. Jack D. Shrum